The jealous Pharisees misinterpreted all the actions of our Lord. The very deeds that should have melted their hearts and won their admiration, only served as an excuse to charge him with immorality. These self-righteous men had so often been rebuked by Jesus for their iniquity, and exposed in their evil purposes and wicked natures, that they did not dare to bring their complaints to him, but carry them where they will be most likely to create prejudice and unbelief. Had the disciples of Jesus listened to these insinuations, they would have ceased from following their Master. But they heeded not the base charges of impiety and evil associations against him by those who were themselves filled with malice and hatred. {2SP 192.3}

De misundelige farisæer fremstiller alle Herrens handlinger i et falsk lys. De gerninger, som burde have smeltet deres hjerter og vundet deres beundring, benyttede de blot til at anklage ham for mangel på fromhed. Disse egenretfærdige mennesker blev ofte irettesatte af Jesus for deres ugudelighed, (193) og han åbenbarede deres onde hensigter og fordærvede karakter. Derfor turde de ikke komme til ham med deres klager, men de bragte dem til sådanne, hos hvem, de snarest kunne påvirke til fordom og vantro. Dersom Jesu disciple havde lyttet til disse beskyldinger, så ville de have ophørt at følge deres Mester. Men de satte ingen tillid til de ondskabsfulde om synd og deltagelse i dårlige selskaber, som blev fremført mod ham af mennesker, der selv var fulde af ondskab og had.